How to Get Rid of Distractions – Make Music More Efficiently

Music producers have the ability to manufacture a track after another – in an ideal world. The reality is, unfortunately, that distractions are everywhere we turn our heads and there is no escaping them. How to get rid of distractions is no easy task in this technologically advanced world, forcing people to multitask on every single issue in their life. Read on for some simple, mind-cleansing tricks.

Distractions, what are they?

Music producers have a tendency to be somewhat lonely people, caved up in their music production dens for long periods of time at once. Online media such as Facebook, Twitter, instant messaging and various apps (yes, I’m talking to you neurotic Tinder-swappers) act as roadblocks on the music production street.

Of course, it’s normal to use these media, but when they get in the way of making music, we’ve got a problem.

Here’s a usual situation: you’re on your way making a track, progressing nicely, just getting the drum groove sound tight. Then you get a message on WhatsApp, and the side of your eye detects the incoming message instantly, the phone lying on the desk next to you. Of course, due to your natural curiosity, you need to see who sent you a message and what did they say.

Well, say goodbye to a nice music production flow. It’s gone!

How to tackle the distractions?

For your own good, you need to start building certain routines. First, you need to plan ahead on what you are going to do next (e.g. “make music for the next few hours”) and stick to it. Prior to start proceeding in your plan, you need to take some precautions in case of possible distractions.

Put your phone on silent and place it at the other side of the room, behind you. In this way, there’s no possible way you’ll be constantly looking at the phone, causing a continuous distraction for yourself.

If your computer is connected to the Internet, pull out the plug, shut down the router or disable Internet access from your OS. Next time you try sneaking to Facebook, lying to yourself that you are actually making something, you’ll get a reminding “no Internet access available” message. Good. At least you’ll get some work done this way.

Take a sticky post-it note, or write down on a piece of paper: “Make music, 2pm-4pm” and have it in your vicinity. This note will remind you to stick to your plan.

Make sure to tell your partner, roommate or parents that you are going to make music and you shouldn’t be distracted, until you are finished. They should understand.

In an ideal world…

Of course, in the real world, we will always receive some kind of distractions, since the situation rarely is ideal for having a music making dream session. In the end, it comes down to the personal strength and willpower to decide what kind of man/woman you really are. Are you in the music production game for real, or are you just messing around.

Ultimately, the amount of music you finish will answer this question. The pros in the music making scene always have something to show for.

Do you?

Don’t let the distractions and vices of life take over the best of you.